AXE-EDIT v 0.9.191 RELEASE NOTES & USER GUIDEsteve.sideroadsband.com/AxeFx/manuals/Fractal_Audio_axe-edit_quick... · the Internet to download new sounds. Axe-Edit adds these capabilities

Axe-Edit Quickstart Guide Fractal Audio Systems

© 2011 - FRACTAL AUDIO SYSTEMS. DOC v 1.03 P a g e | 1

AXE-EDIT v 0.9.191 RELEASE NOTES & USER GUIDE

WELCOME!

Imagine your Axe-Fx with a large color monitor, mouse and keyboard… with a hard drive to store

virtually unlimited presets instead of a “mere” 384 user memories… with the ability to connect to

the Internet to download new sounds. Axe-Edit adds these capabilities and more to the world’s

greatest guitar processor.

Axe-Edit offers a faster, easier way to edit the Axe-Fx Standard and Ultra for users with a Mac/PC

computer and a MIDI interface. It allows you to browse, edit, manage, back up, update, and more.

This document does NOT cover “Preset Manager” because it is slated for replacement by “Axe-

Manage” in the next major release.

AXE-EDIT BETA VERSION

Axe-Edit is currently a BETA application. This means it is a WORK IN PROGRESS. We release it for

your testing and general enjoyment, but cannot offer tech support except through our forum at

http://fractalaudio.com/forum.

Beta software often has bugs and limitations. Always see the documentation that comes with an

Axe-Edit installer for important notes. The current version has many improvements over the last

release and should prove more stable and enjoyable for all.

The Main Axe-Edit Window

http://fractalaudio.com/forum



SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Mac OS: OS X 10.4+ (Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard)

Windows OS: 2000, XP, Vista, Windows7, 32-bit or 64-bit versions

CPU: Pentium4+ or equivalent AMD or newer, G4 or Intel Core Duo or newer

Memory: 1GB or more

Video: 1024x768 or greater

Disk space: 30MB minimum, 150MB recommended

2-way MIDI interface, installed (with current drivers)

About MIDI Interfaces The number of available MIDI interfaces is great. Axe-Edit works with most of them, but some perform

better than others. “System Exclusive” support is a must for use with Axe-Edit. A generally

recommended interface is the new MIDISPORT 2x2 (Green) Anniversary Edition (USB). It works well

under both Mac and Windows, is affordable, offers solid drivers and good performance. Our forum

provides information on interfaces which have been shown to work well.

Whichever interface you use, it should be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions,

updated with the latest drivers, and connected to your computer before Axe-Edit launches.

CONNECTIONS

The diagram below shows a basic Axe-Edit setup. MIDI is a control protocol—it does not carry audio. You

need to have your Axe-Fx connected to BOTH the MIDI interface/Computer, and some kind of amplifier,

powered speaker system, or other monitoring device to be able to hear it. The Axe-Edit application does

NOT utilize your computer’s soundcard.

BASIC AXE-EDIT CONNECTION DIAGRAM

You DO NOT need to hook up your Axe-Fx to the computer soundcard. Axe-Edit will not produce any

sound through your computer. It is an editor—a simple means of advanced remote control.

http://forum.fractalaudio.com/



INSTALLING AXE-EDIT

Windows Download the .exe installer from www.fractalaudio.com/products-axe-edit.html

Double click the installer icon and click through any security warnings to launch the Setup Program.

Accept the license agreement and continue through the remaining steps to install the application.

Review the “README” which is displayed on screen and FINISH to launch Axe-Edit.

Mac Download the .dmg installer from www.fractalaudio.com/products-axe-edit.html

Double click the icon and click through any security warnings to launch the Axe-Edit installer.

Accept the license agreement and continue through the remaining steps to install the application.

Review the “README” which is displayed on screen and FINISH to launch Axe-Edit.

http://www.fractalaudio.com/products-axe-edit.html

http://www.fractalaudio.com/products-axe-edit.html



START UP & SETUP

Launch Axe-Edit using the icon in your applications folder (Mac) or the icon in your Start Menu (Win).

The first time you run Axe-Edit, you need to to choose a folder for user and program data. The default is

a new “Fractal Audio” subdirectory under your documents. For best performance, network drives should

not be used for the Axe-Edit data directory.

If you are reinstalling Axe-Edit and want to change the location of the program/user data directory, you

can select to have files automatically copied to the new location.

A second option sets the default paths of preset manager views to their corresponding new folders in

your data directory.

MIDI SETTINGS

Before you can use Axe-Edit, you must properly configure the MIDI settings. Select this option under the

[settings] button in the upper left of the main Axe-Edit window.



In the MIDI settings window, choose your MIDI Input and MIDI Output devices by name. If you are

using the Axe-Fx on a non-default MIDI channel, select that value; otherwise, leave it set for 1.

As soon as you correctly set INPUT, OUTPUT, and CHANNEL, the Axe-Fx should be detected and will

appear under Status at the bottom of the MIDI Settings window:

See TROUBLESHOOTING on p.13 if your Axe-Fx does not appear in STATUS when polled after you make

correct MIDI Input and MIDI Output device selections.

SYSEX ID

CURRENT AXE-FX FIRMWARE Axe-Edit is pre-configured for use with Axe-Fx firmware versions 10.02 and later, which use a hard-

coded SysEx ID of 00-01-74.

OLDER AXE-FX FIRMWARE Axe-Fx firmware versions 10.01 and earlier allow you to set the SysEx ID to any value from 0-127. To use

Axe-Edit with older Axe-Fx firmware you must select a value in the “Pre 10.02 Firmware Decimal ID”

dropdown to match that in your Axe-Fx under I/O:MIDI:SYSEX ID. The default setting on the Axe-Fx will

be 125.



CTRL SETTINGS (OPTIONAL)

The 2nd tab of MIDI Settings covers optional settings for using Tuner, Tempo, and the Axe-Fx Looper.

Axe-Edit can bring the Axe-Fx tuner display to your computer screen. On the Axe-Fx:

1. Ensure that SEND REALTIME SYSEX is set to ALL or TUNER. This setting can be found under I/O:MIDI:SEND REALTIME SYSEX.

2. Ensure that the TUNER has some CC# number assigned. This setting can be found under I/O:CONTROL:TUNER

In Axe-Edit, open the CTRL tab of the MIDI Settings window and ensure that the setting for Tuner CC, TEMPO CC, and the various LOOPER controls match those found in the Axe-Fx under I/O:CONTROL

OTHER AXE-FX SETTINGS

To ensure optimal operation of Axe-Edit’s “Audition” features, please set IGNORE REDUNDANT

PROGRAM CHANGES to OFF in the Axe-Fx under I/O:MIDI:IGNORE REDUNDANT PC

TITLE BAR STATUS

Once you have made MIDI Settings, close the MIDI Settings Window. You generally won’t need to re-

visit these settings unless you change midi adapters/ports/etc. Under normal circumstances, Axe-Edit

communicates the status message which appears in MIDI SETTINGS via the application’s TITLE BAR. This

area is also used to show information about midi activity.

A “healthy” connection will show the Axe-Fx, firmware version, and SysEx ID. The IN and OUT meters in

Axe-Edit are for future use and serve NO function in the application at present. CPU is approximate.

Please see UTILITY:STATUS on the Axe-Fx for accurate readout of CPU and I/O information.



USING AXE-EDIT

SELECT A SOURCE When you start Axe Edit, you should immediately select a SOURCE.

Source options include:

Axe-Fx: Use this to open, edit, and save presets to/from a connected Axe-Fx Standard or Ultra

Bank File: Use this to open, edit, and save presets to/from a bank file on your computer.

Preset Folder: Use this to open/edit/save presets to/from a folder on your computer where they are

stored as individual .syx files (ex: those you’ve downloaded from other users, exported from the Save As

menu, or found on Axe-Change)

Details about the currently selected Axe-Edit source appear above the preset name display. For

example, the path and file name of a Bank File source will be displayed as a reminder of what you are

editing.

You can change the source at any time, but be sure to SAVE any unsaved preset before doing so or it will

be lost!

The Axe-Change source is for future use. It cannot be selected in Axe-Edit’s source menu.



AXE-FX SYNC When using the Axe-Fx SOURCE, it is recommended that you perform a SYNC so that program names

can be displayed in Preset Selection menus. Axe-Edit will remember names across sessions, but they will

be grayed each time you exit to indicate that you should SYNC again in case of changes outside Axe-Edit.

To SYNC one PRESET, simply load it individually using the arrows or the preset selector menu.

Note: Loading presets in the Preset Manager will also SYNC corresponding entries in the Editor.

To SYNC an entire bank, choose Sync this Bank from the top of the preset menu page for that bank.

To SYNC all Axe-Fx banks at once, choose Sync Banks from Hardware under the Preset Selector Menu.

When you SYNC all banks, Axe-Edit will also give you the option to backup each axe-fx bank as a file.

These backups will be found in the backups subdirectory of the workspace you selected upon axe-edit’s

first launch. Remember, each time you re-launch Axe-Edit, synced names will be grayed out on the

chance they may have been changed outside of Axe-Edit since your last program session. You may

ignore this effect if you’re confident that the entries are indeed identical in both systems, or simply re-

sync to be sure.



EDITING PRESETS

Once you have selected a source and loaded a preset, it will be displayed in the main GRID EDITOR:

To make changes, click on any effect block in the preset, causing its parameters to appear in the EFFECT

EDITOR beneath the grid.

Some effects have multiple pages of parameters, available via the tab buttons (green box above).



SAVING EDITED PRESETS When you've edited a preset and want to save changes, press the SAVE button (outlined in red, below).

This saves it to the currently selected preset of the current source.

The SNAPSHOT button (outlined in green above) stashes a copy of the currently loaded/edited preset to

the SPILL/SCRATCH area of the PRESET MANAGER, allowing you to go back later to revisit cool

milestones. The names of snapshot programs will include a date/timestamp, so you may wish to rename

them after reloading. Snapshots are cleared when you exit Axe-Edit, but you can manually save them

first through the SPILL/SCRATCH area of the PRESET MANAGER.

“RECALL” AND “SAVE AS” FEATURES

The RECALL dropdown includes operations which bring preset data into Axe-Edit.

RECALL LAST SAVED VERSION provides a one-click way to throw away your edits and reload the

current program from the Axe-FX or your currently opened source file or folder.

RECALL FROM AXE-Fx EDIT BUFFER pulls in the contents of the Axe Fx edit buffer. The EDIT

BUFFER is the special temporary memory space in the Axe-Fx. When a preset is loaded or

recalled, it is placed here for playback and/or editing. This is useful to resync Axe-Edit when you

make changes from the Axe-FX front panel.

RECALL AXE-FX PRESET ### will poll the Axe-FX for the preset at this designated location

(Available for Bank File/Preset Folder Sources only).

AUTO RECALL is shown only when the SOURCE is Axe-FX. When it's ON, this option causes the

Axe-FX to send each preset to the Editor as it is selected. When Auto Recall is OFF, the selected

preset is loaded instead from a locally cached version created the last time it was SYNCED.

Presets loaded in this manner are shown with their names dimmed in the display until a SAVE or

RECALL is performed.

IMPORT PRESET FILE or CSV allows you to load individual preset files within the current source.



SAVE AS The SAVE AS dropdown activates advanced operations which transmit or export data from Axe-Edit.

SAVE TO NEW LOCATION allows you to re-direct an edited preset to a new memory location in

the CURRENT SOURCE. Example: Open Axe-FX preset A:013 and save it to Axe-FX Preset C:382.

SAVE AS AXE-FX PRESET - Use this option (available only when the source is a BANK FILE or

PRESET FOLDER) to write the currently loaded preset to the Axe-FX at its original numbered

location. (Example: Open Bank File Preset 15 into Axe-FX preset 15).

SEND TO AXE-FX EDIT BUFFER pushes the current state of Axe-Edit back to the connected

hardware. Use this if you have to reboot the hardware or to override changes made through the

front panel.

EXPORT PRESET FILE or CSV allows you to SAVE any preset as a file to any location on your

computer.

AUTO AUDITION causes any preset you load from a bank file, preset folder, or import to be

automatically sent to the connected Axe-Fx (so you can hear it!) Turning Auto Audition OFF

stops this from happening, at which point you will need to manually send or save programs to

the hardware. Any parameter edits you make will still be sent, however, so tread carefully.

While Auto-Audition is active, the setting for AUTO AUDITION AT NUMBERED LOCATION

determines whether presets load into the current hardware preset number or the current

software preset number. The former simply sends the preset to the Axe-Fx edit buffer. The

latter sends a program change to the Axe-Fx to select the corresponding preset number before

sending the new preset to the Axe-Fx.

SAVING EFFECT BLOCK SETTINGS

Our beta team thought it would be good to include a tip about Effect Block Settings. Axe-Edit allows you

to save Effect Block Settings so you can instantly recall them at any time in any preset. For instance, you

could save a cool DELAY setting from a friend’s best program and then insert it easily to another of your

own presets with just a few clicks.

In the GRID, right/ctrl click on any block. Choose SETTINGS>SAVE SETTINGS. Give the new entry a name

(20 chars. max) and click SAVE.

To recall a saved effect block setting, right/ctrl click on any grid

location (populated or empty) and choose SETTINGS>RECALL

SETTINGS. Select the submenu for the block type you saved, then

find it and click it in the list of saved entries. Voila…Total recall!

Note: In this version of Axe-Edit, you are limited to 128 TOTAL saved

effect block settings.



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: How do I use “PRESET MANAGER”?

A: In Axe-Edit, select Settings : Help : Preset Manager for more information.

Q: How do I transfer user Cab IRs to the Axe-Fx?

A: Use the Preset Manager. The following demo may be of help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qphnI37Wdcw

Q: Why is Axe-Edit nable to detect my Axe-Fx after it was previously working great?

A: First, check that all MIDI Cables are connected correctly (see p. 2.) Check the MIDI Input and Output

selections under Axe-Edit : MIDI Settings. If the correct selections appear there (or if you cannot

make/find the choices you are looking for) your computer and MIDI interface may be to blame. USB

MIDI interface problems are often solved by the following routine.

1. Close Axe-Edit.

2. Remove and reconnect the USB Midi interface.

3. Re-launch Axe-Edit and check its MIDI SETTINGS.

If this does not work, a more rigorous re-start process might help:

1. Disconnect your USB MIDI interface from the computer

2. Reboot the computer

3. Reconnect the MIDI interface to a different USB port

4. Re-launch Axe-Edit and check its MIDI SETTINGS.

Q: Should I try different BUFFER and DELAY options under MIDI Settings?

A: Typically not. These options allow expert users to fine tune the size and speed parameters of MIDI

communication in your system. Different MIDI interfaces may require a tweak here, but it is best to

leave these settings alone unless you have it on good authority that a change is required here.

Q: Can I use Axe-Edit and the MFC-101 simultaneously?

A: Yes, but you need special hardware. Both the MFC-101 and the computer need to be able to send

MIDI messages to the Axe-Fx, while the Axe-Fx needs to be able to send MIDI to both of them in return.

Messages from Axe-Edit do not need to reach the MFC-101, and messages from the MFC-101 do not

need to reach Axe-Edit.

Depending on how you look at things, 3-way connection scenarios are complicated or simplified by the

fact that the MFC-101 allows bidirectional MIDI communication over a single MIDI cable, and can even

work with Phantom power. To take advantage of this capability, you will need to modify a standard

hardware MIDI merger (like the MIDI Solutions 2-in 1-Out Merger).

More information can be found online in the unofficial Axe-Fx Wiki

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qphnI37Wdcw

http://axefxwiki.guitarlogic.org/index.php?title=Tutorials#Getting_the_MFC-101_and_AxeEdit_working_together



TROUBLESHOOTING

Each component of an Axe-Edit setup must work for the entire system to operate correctly. We will

focus on the numbered areas below:

1-4: First, ensure that your Guitar, Axe-Fx, and monitoring system are working correctly by testing them

with MIDI cables disconnected from the Axe-Fx. Check: your guitar and instrument cable, the Axe-FX

input and output knob positions, Axe-Fx system settings (especially I/O MODE and I/O Audio), the cable

to your amp/monitor, and the settings of that device. Restart your Axe-Fx, select a known good preset,

and you should see the input meters lighting and be able to hear the Axe-Fx processing your guitar

signal.

5: A common mistake, even among seasoned pros, is to have the Axe-Fx MIDI cables switched, or

connected to the wrong ports altogether. Double check these connections first if Axe-Edit cannot detect

a connected Axe-Fx. Be especially careful that you haven’t used the MIDI THRU port by mistake…

6. Your MIDI interface may require certain settings of its own. Refer to the manufacturer’s

documentation for more information. An Axe-Edit LOOPBACK TEST (see below) can also help to confirm

that your computer and MIDI interface are working correctly.

7. The connection between your MIDI interface and computer is critical. Be sure to use a working cable

of the correct type according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

8. Your computer must have the correct, current driver installed for your MIDI interface. It is absolutely

essential that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing such a device. A common

mistake made when installing USB MIDI Interfaces, for example, is connecting the device before

installing the driver. To correct problems caused by faulty installations, you typically need to remove the



device, uninstall the driver, re-install the driver, and reconnect the device (sometimes even choosing a

different USB port at this point helps.)

6-8: In worst-case scenarios, problems with a computer may prevent the correct operation or

installation of a MIDI interface. Missing/incorrect/ incorrectly installed drivers, faulty hardware, OS

settings, conflicts with other programs or devices, and a range of other possibilities can each be

implicated. Fortunately, Axe-Edit now provides the means to perform a MIDI Loopback to test your

COMPUTER, INTERFACE, and MIDI CABLE(s).

To perform a loopback test using Axe-Edit, connect the MIDI IN of your MIDI interface directly to its

MIDI OUT.

Open MIDI SETTINGS in Axe-Edit, ensure that the MIDI IN and MIDI OUT devices selected are those

which you have cable together, and press the MIDI LOOPBACK TEST button.

You will either see “Loopback test failed!” or “Loopback test passed.” A successful test confirms that the

computer, interface and midi cable are working correctly. It is a good idea to test both cables you’ll use

with Axe-Edit. Note: “Cable only” type midi interfaces like the MIDISport UNO cannot be tested in this

way without a barrel connector (ex: HOSA GMD-108)

GETTING HELP

Axe-Edit is not officially supported by Fractal Audio, but we do offer help through our online forum at

the address http://forum.fractalaudio.com/forums/48-Axe-Edit-Software-Editor

http://forum.fractalaudio.com/forums/48-Axe-Edit-Software-Editor

Documents

AXE-EDIT v 0.9.191 RELEASE NOTES & USER GUIDEsteve.sideroadsband.com/AxeFx/manuals/Fractal_Audio_axe-edit_quick... · the Internet to download new sounds. Axe-Edit adds these capabilities